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My most popular learning sessions, speeches, and TED-like talks

Are you looking for speakers at your learning day, team meeting, or offsite? Read on for talks I’d be thrilled to deliver to your team, based on popular writings on Mind The Beet.

One of the best parts about Mind The Beet is that it helps me clarify my thoughts. So it’s often the case that after I write a post and it’s popular, I find a forum to deliver a TED-talk-like version of the main points. My own team meeting, various learning days, offsites, and invites from college classes on product making - these are all great ways to “take Mind The Beet on the road.”

This post summarizes the ready-to-go talks I’ve been working on for the past year.

My Most Popular Talks

Here is the rank list of my most popular talks - all of these are “in the can” and ready for me to give on a moment’s notice.

Advancing from Product Manager to Product Leader

Length: 2 versions: A short 20 minute version and an extended 45 min version.

Abstract: In this talk, I’ll frame the progression that Product Managers make in their career before zooming in on the most important inflection point in a PM’s career: the jump from Product Manager to Product Leader (e.g from Senior to Principal).   We’ll talk about best practices and common pitfalls.

Finding Purpose in Tech Careers

Length: 30 min talk. 20 min breakout to discuss.

Abstract: I’ll lead you on a journey to discuss “The Why.” We’ll talk about the typical journey: most people focus on mastery before even thinking about their purpose. I’ll define purpose in the context of other facets of motivation and then I’ll frame different ways of filling up your purpose cup with examples from my own career. This talk is best followed by smaller breakout sessions to discuss your own journey towards purpose maximizing.

Thriving in the Matrix: A Guide To Cross-Team Work

Length: 30 min talk. 15 min discussions.

Abstract: In the age of cloud systems and AI, the limits of cross-team work are not gated by technology anymore but rather by the imagination of our people systems.  How can we bring our best selves to x-team work?   How can we leverage empathy, vulnerability, and allyship in x-team work just as much as we do on our own teams?

Indeed, with a lot of x-team work, you hear phrases like "Let's not randomize my team" or "Put it on the ask list" or various other tribal, low-level call/response or hub/spoke processes.  Stop!  Just stop!  We can do better for customers and have more fun along the way.

In this talk, I’ll talk about a new approach.  One rooted in building a coalition of doers across teams, rooted in trust and shared context.   Yes, it's a framing for x-team work that you can apply to your next x-team vTeam, but more importantly, it's a mindset shift on what's most important: the thriving relationships and spirit of allyship rather than the very next tactical x-team outcome. 

Managing Burnout and Boredom

Length: 30 mins

Abstract: The concept of Flow is one of the most important framings for a sustainable career in tech. Let’s learn how to match challenge with opportunity, skate the boundaries between boredom and burnout, and develop a stress dashboard to detect warning signs early. I will also share the boundaries I put on my time and how they have evolved over the years.

Time Management Pro Tips: Where Does a Product Leader Spend Their Time?

Length: 45 mins

Abstract: Have you done a calendar audit recently? Have you been intentional about the books, podcasts, and blogs you read? Do you make time for epic stuff on your task list? I’ll share what I’ve learned as a product leader who has spent a decade and a half optimizing my calendar, tasks, and reading list.

How to Find Learning Opportunities Everywhere

Length: 20 mins

Abstract: If you want to develop and grow, you must incorporate learning into your everyday routines. You have to evolve your job so that you are paid to learn. In this talk, I’ll discuss three key best practices for on-the-job learning: embracing the right mindset, developing the right habits, and thinking carefully about the right intentional learning bets. As a bonus, I’ll also frame the top 10 development areas that were most important for my own development for a career in tech.

How to Rock Your Paid Time Off

Length: 20 mins

Abstract: As many organizations move to unlimited time off, two important things are emerging: leaders must role model the right recharge behavior and we all must learn how to embrace our PTO vs. relying on a vacation meter. In this talk, I’ll discuss my own journey at reflecting on how I recharge and use time off, based on various recharge weeks and my recent sabbatical.

Booking Me At Your Event

I’ve been averaging 2 events/month and I have a goal to increase it to 4/month this year. So it would be a real gift to me if you reached out if I can be at all helpful to your team’s culture or team members’ learning. You can reply to this mail, reach out to me on LinkedIn, or email me directly.

Of course, it’s free. I don’t charge any speaking engagement fees - it’s always rewarding and fun to hear the feedback and engage with new audiences.